Book Review: 'The Gap' by Thomas Suddendorf

What makes humans unique—tools? Language? Cooking?

By

David Barash

Nov. 15, 2013 3:23 p.m. ET

Why is our species different from all other species? This isn't a Passover Seder question but a genuine scientific one that can be divided into two parts: How are human beings different from others, and by what means has this difference come about? It turns out that neither question has a simple answer, although the former may be more amenable to productive inquiry.

For "true believers" among the Big Three Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—there is no problem answering either question. Why are...